Seal



May 7, 1940. L, A BELL 2,200,149

SEAL

Filed Deo. 19, 1939 4 i n n f Patented May 7, 1940 y SEAL Leslie A. Bueu, Holly, Mich.

Application Decemberie, 193e, serial 310,062 l l hiciaims., (c1. 29e- 119) l A the portions` I5.' Portions 2U are provided with y ,fh-UNITED-s'rATEs PATENT OFFICE 4 This invention relates to an improved self-locking'seal particularly adapted for sealing freight car doors and so constructed that the seal, once locked, must be broken to be detached to readily indicate that the seal has been tampered with.

n from being picked, opened and relocked.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide a durable seal of simple construction which may be economically manufactured and sold.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section showing the seal in a partly locked position,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the seal in a fully locked position,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the seal with the casing or housing removed therefrom and showing the parts in an unlocked position,

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken substantially along the planes of the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Figure 1, and

Figure 7 is a plan view of the strap including the blank at one end thereof from which the head is formed.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I designates generally the self-locking seal including generally the flexible strap II and casing or housing I2.

'I'he strap II is preferably formed of sheet metal or other material which is preferably resilient and flexible. The strap Il, as seen in its blank form in Figure '7, includes an .elongated narrow strap portion I3 having an elongated opening I4 at one end thereof. The opposite end of the portion I3 is enlarged laterally to form the vcorresponding portions I which are adapted to be rbent along their dividing line I6. The corresponding longitudinal edges I'I of the portions I5 are adapted to be turned inwardly to form the slot I8, as best seen in Figure 6. Portions I5 combine to form the head, designated generally I9. Head I9 also includes the extensions 20 which project outwardly in opposite directions, relatively to each other, from the outer 'edges of the inwardly tapered vV-I-shaped notches y2|, as best seen in Figure. The head I9 is also provided with the notches 22 in the edges I6 and I1,

as best seen inFigure 3. Casing or housing I2 is mounted on the head I9 and is provided with the inturned flanges 23 for engaging the notches 22 to secure the parts II and I2 together.

A pair of leaf type springs, each preferably f comprising a single strand of wire, are disposed in the housing I2. are rsecured at their corresponding ends to the sides I5 of the head I9, in any suitable manner, as by soldering or welding.k The intermediate portions of the springs 24 are loosely disposed in the notches 2 I. Springs 24 are arcuately shaped to normally cross adjacent their free ends 25, as best seen in Figurel, and the point at which they cross is disposed substantially in alinement with the slot I8 of the head I9, for a purpose which will hereinafter be explained. Springs 24, 'adjacent their free ends 25 are looped to form the enlargements 26.

From the foregoing it will be obvious, that the free end of the strap portion I3, which contains the elongated opening I4, may be bent back upon itself, as in Figure 1 and passed through the slot I8. As said free end moves into the casing I2 it will engage the springs 24 at the point where they cross to spread or retract the springs so that this end can pass between the ends 25 of the springs and on until it abuts against the closed end of the casing or housing I2. When in this position, the opening I4 lwill be registering with the ends 25 so that the springs 24 will be projected back to the position, as seen inFigure l. By then pulling outwardly on the same end of the strap I3, the springs 24 will be compressed thereby causing their free ends to move further through the opening I4 so that the enlargements pass through the opening I4 and are disposed on opposite sides of the strap I3 to their normal position, as seen in Figure 1. In this position, as illustrated in Figure 2, it will be readily seen that both ends of the strap II are securely locked in the casing or housing I2 to form the loop 21 by means of which a freight car door or other closure may be sealed. In order to prevent the seal I0 from being tampered with and opened without destroying it, the enlargements 26' are provided sothat thin bladed instruments cannot be passed through the slot I8 on each side of the strap portion I3 to retract the springs 24 out of engagement with the opening I4, since such instrument, not shown, wouldbe engaged by The springs, designated 24 the enlargements 26 as the springs 24 are moved toward a retracted position to thus prevent the springs from retracting suiciently to disengage the free end of the strap portion I3.

Obviously, if desired, either of the springs 24 may be dispensed with and the seal I0 still function in the same manner.

Various modications and changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts forming the invention are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to.

I claim as my invention:

l. A self-locking seal comprising a strap having a head at one end thereof including spaced substantially parallel portions forming a longitudinal slot therebetween, arcuately shapedy leaf springs secured to said head and projecting therefrom with their ends in crossed relationship forwardly of said head, a casing secured to said head and enclosing said springs, and the opposite end of said strap being provided with a slot and being insertable through said first mentioned slot to retract the springs so that the normally crossed ends thereof will be disposed on opposite sides of the last mentioned slot and projected in opposite directions therethrough for retaining the free end of the strap in position in the casing.

2. A device as in claim l, comprising loops formed on said springs adjacent their last mentioned'ends, said loops being on the inner sides of the springs and adjacent to the head, the free end of said strap being retractable to move said loops through said last mentioned slot to prevent the springs from being disengaged from the free end of said strap.

3. A self-locking seal comprising a flexible strap of sheet metal or the like having'an enlarged end-comprising spaced parallel portions forming a slot therebetween, said portions having corresponding oppositely projecting extensions provided with inwardly extending notchesr` leaf springs secured at corresponding ends to said portions and projecting forwardly therefrom, the intermediate portions of said springs being loosely disposed in said notches, said springs being arcuately shaped with their free ends overlapping,'a casing connected to the enlarged end of said strap and enclosing said springs, and the free end of said strapA being insertable through the slot in said portions for engaging and retracting the free ends of the springs, said strap being provided with an opening adjacent its free end through which the free ends of the springs are projected when in alinement therewith for securing the free end of the strap in said casing.

4. A device as in claim 3, and means on said springs, adjacent their free ends, to prevent the springs from being retracted out of engagement with the opening` n. v

. LESLIE A. BUELL. 

